Officers Maritime Academy · Dehradun
A company sponsorship can decide which ship you train on and who you sail with. Getting one means clearing an online test, an interview and a company medical. We prepare students in Dehradun for every one of those rounds.
In merchant navy admissions, a sponsorship usually means a shipping company selects you before your pre-sea course and links your training to its own ships. It is valuable, because finding a training berth is one of the hardest parts of starting out. But read the fine print with us first.
A sponsor links your course to its fleet, so you are not left searching for your first ship after the course ends.
Sponsored cadets often pay the course fee. GEIMS lists ₹4,50,000 for its ETO course (September 2026) in its official notice, and says fees are not refundable.
GEIMS's DNS notice for August 2026 asks selected cadets to serve on its vessels for three years. Always ask for the bond terms in writing.
Every company runs its own process, but the steps are similar. This is how GEIMS (Great Eastern) describes it in its DNS-40 notice for August 2026:
Apply on the company or institute website and pay the application fee. GEIMS charged ₹750 in 2026.
A link arrives by email, and you take the test from home. You need a stable internet connection.
Candidates who clear the cut-off are called for a personal interview. GEIMS holds them in Mumbai or Lonavala.
Selected candidates are examined by the company's own doctor. A report from another doctor may not be accepted.
GEIMS ranks candidates on past academic scores, test, interview and medical results.
Those on the merit list pay a non-refundable booking amount and receive a sponsorship letter.
For DNS, GEIMS also requires a valid IMU CET rank. Under DGS Training Circular 12 of 2020, DG Shipping approved institutes admit candidates on the basis of their IMU CET rank, as IMU’s 2026-27 prospectus notes. That is why our main programme prepares you for IMU CET and sponsorship together.
For its August 2026 DNS batch, GEIMS listed these sections. Other companies use their own mix, and ETO and GME tests also include technical questions from your field.
| Route | Who it is for | Course length |
|---|---|---|
| DNS sponsorship | Class 12 with PCM average 60% and 50% in English (IMU 2026-27), plus a valid IMU CET rank | 1 year at the institute, then shipboard training |
| B.Tech Marine Engineering sponsorship | Class 12 with PCM average 60% and 50% in English (IMU 2026-27), plus a valid IMU CET rank | 4 years |
| ETO sponsorship | An electrical or electronics diploma or degree, as each company specifies | GEIMS: 4 months at the institute, then 8 months on board as a trainee ETO |
| GME sponsorship | A B.E./B.Tech, mainly Mechanical, as each company specifies | About 1 year |
Eligibility rules change every year. Always read the company’s current notice before you apply.
For the July 2026 to June 2027 batch, the programme costs ₹75,000, including a non-refundable ₹2,500 registration fee. It prepares you for IMU CET and for sponsorship exams of 15–20 shipping companies. Installments are available, and a 10% discount applies for students whose father is in the Army or is a farmer, and for students from a single-parent family. Ask us about current batches for GME and ETO preparation.
Every company makes its own decision. If anyone, including a coaching institute, promises a "confirmed" sponsorship for money, walk away.
Search the DG Shipping approved list before you pay a training institute. Our guide shows how to verify one.
GEIMS says Great Eastern does not charge job seekers for offers or interviews. DGMA Circular 45 of 2026 warns candidates not to rely on promises of assured sea employment.
Want to see our record first? Our IMUCET selections and GP Rating selections are published on our site.
A shipping company selects you before your pre-sea course and links your training to its own ships. You usually still pay the course fee, and a service bond is common. GEIMS, for example, asks DNS cadets to serve on its vessels for three years.
Most companies use an online test, then a personal interview and a medical by the company doctor. GEIMS then ranks candidates on academics, test, interview and medical results, and asks those selected to pay a non-refundable booking amount.
For DNS and degree courses, usually yes. GEIMS requires a valid IMU CET rank for its DNS batch, and DG Shipping approved institutes admit on the IMU CET rank under DGS Training Circular 12 of 2020.
At Officers Maritime Academy, the IMUCET + Sponsorship programme for July 2026 to June 2027 costs ₹75,000, including a non-refundable ₹2,500 registration fee. Installments are available.
No. The company decides. Good preparation improves your chances in the test, the psychometric round and the interview, but nobody can promise a selection.
First Floor, Capitol Tower, 17, New Survey Road, Survey Chowk. Dehradun-248001.
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